Photo: Prashant Gaikwad, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Housing society buildings in Sector 7, Kharghar. This is an illustrative photo and says nothing about any building’s fire compliance.
Housing societies must keep required fire safety systems working throughout the year. For buildings subject to periodic certification, Form B submissions fall in January and July and cover the preceding six months. Fire approvals, maintenance certificates and statutory audits serve different purposes. Start by checking the building’s applicable requirements and its competent authority.
Quick answer: Under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, the owner or occupier of a building covered by the Act must keep the fire safety measures in good repair at all times. A licensed agency must certify compliance, and a maintenance certificate in the prescribed form goes to the Chief Fire Officer twice a year, in January and July (Section 3 of the Act). The January certificate covers 1 July to 31 December and the July certificate covers 1 January to 30 June (official Form B guidelines).
This is general information and not legal advice. This site is independent and is not affiliated with NMMC or the fire services.
Which authority applies to your building
The NMMC details in this guide apply to properties within NMMC’s jurisdiction. Elsewhere in the wider Navi Mumbai area, first identify the competent fire and planning authority from the building’s approval records. Do not decide it from the postal address alone. The Act says fire safety approval comes from the Chief Fire Officer of the concerned local authority or planning authority, and from the Director where there is no Chief Fire Officer for that area (Section 3(1)). Which building types the Act covers depends on its Schedule I, so confirm with the competent authority.
Approval, Form B, Form B-1 and audit: what each is for
| Document or process | Purpose | Who issues or does it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional and final fire safety approval | Authority approval of the building’s fire safety at the relevant stage | The Chief Fire Officer of the local or planning authority, or the Director where there is none | At the building stage. See the renewal note below. |
| Form B | Periodic certificate that the fire fighting systems are maintained in good repair and working condition | A licensed agency, submitted by the owner or occupier | January and July each year |
| Form B-1 | Certificate tied to the automated continuous monitoring requirement for buildings covered by Section 3(3A) | A licensed agency | January and July, where Section 3(3A) applies |
| Fire and Life Safety Audit and Form V | Evaluation of the building’s fire prevention and life safety measures | A licensed Fire and Life Safety Auditor | For buildings covered by Section 45, once every two years after the initial period (Section 45A) |
Section 45 covers, among others, residential buildings taller than 70 metres and buildings taller than 30 metres used as hotels, hospitals, business, mercantile or mixed occupancies, according to the Act as published on 7 July 2025. So the audit cycle is not a universal rule for every housing society. See our high-rise safety guide for the category by category detail. Form B-1 and Form V are separate certificates in the 2025 amended Rules (Maharashtra Fire Rules, 2025 amendment).
Form B: periods, documents and submission
| Submission month | Period the certificate covers |
|---|---|
| January | 1 July to 31 December of the previous year |
| July | 1 January to 30 June of the same year |
The Act says the certificates are due in the months of January and July. If your authority publishes a specific date within the month, follow its notice. The official guidelines also stress that equipment has to be maintained at the intervals set by the relevant Indian Standards all year, not only when the certificate is due. The guidelines are Circular No. MFS-2026/888 dated 7 July 2026 (Form B guidelines), and they hold the technical testing detail, so this guide does not repeat it.
Documents that go with Form B
- A covering letter on the owner’s or occupier’s letterhead.
- Form B with the appendices for the fire fighting, detection and alarm, and passive systems the building has.
- A copy of the annual maintenance contract order, or a work order confirmation, showing the period, the systems covered and the agency. The amount is not quoted.
- Service and test reports signed by both the licensed agency and the owner or occupier on the day of testing.
- The latest site inspection report, digitally signed by both sides as agreed.
- A copy of the licensed agency’s valid licence. The Form B must carry the same digital signature as the licence issued by the Director.
The Rules allow submission in person, by registered post, by courier or online to the Chief Fire Officer or the Director, as applicable.
Does a fire NOC have to be renewed every year?
Periodic maintenance certification and renewal of final fire safety approval are different things. Maharashtra’s circular of 31 January 2025 says that when the periodic certificates are produced, the question of renewing the final fire safety approval does not arise, and that authorities are not expected to insist on renewal. It adds that a renewal certificate is still issued where another law requires it, such as the laws covering nursing homes or cinemas (Circular No. MFS/51/2025/164). This does not mean a fire approval never needs attention. Changes to a building or its use have to be checked separately with the competent authority.
Fire NOC services at NMMC
For properties within NMMC’s jurisdiction, the NMMC online portal lists services for issuing a Provisional Fire NOC, a Final Fire NOC and an Amendment Fire NOC (NMMC portal). Ask the NMMC Fire Department which service applies to your building and what documents it needs. See also our NMMC online services guide.
Licensed agencies and fire auditors are different
Maharashtra Fire and Emergency Services keeps two separate registers. A licensed agency does the installation, maintenance and certification work, and issues Form B. A Fire and Life Safety Auditor carries out the audit. The Director grants both kinds of licence (Section 9(1) for agencies and Section 45A(2) for auditors).
| Register | What it lists | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed agencies | Agencies licensed for fire system work and certification. The page carries a list titled valid up to 3 July 2028. | List of licence agencies |
| Fire and Life Safety Auditors | Auditors licensed to carry out fire audits. The page carries a list titled valid up to 31 October 2028. | Fire auditor register |
Check the provider in the correct register. Verify the licence, its scope and its current status before you appoint anyone, because a list’s headline date does not verify every entry. An agency’s authority for installation and maintenance is different from an auditor’s authority to audit. Under Section 45A, only a licensed Fire and Life Safety Auditor may carry out the fire audit.
What officers can do
Fire officers can inspect a building, normally after three hours’ notice between sunrise and sunset, and at any time where it is necessary to ensure safety of life and property (Section 5). After an inspection they can issue a notice directing the owner or occupier to carry out measures within a stated time.
Records for the managing committee
These records help the committee track maintenance, fix defects and show compliance. This is editorial guidance and a starting template, not an official format.
| Item | Responsible person | Last checked | Defect or action | Closure date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January and July certificates and submission proof | ||||
| Fire safety approvals and any amendment | ||||
| Fire audit report and Form V, where applicable | ||||
| Licensed agency, licence copy and maintenance contract | ||||
| Extinguishers in date and service tags | ||||
| Hydrant, hose reel, pump, sprinkler and alarm test reports | ||||
| Stairwells, landings and exits clear and doors working | ||||
| Drill records and emergency contact list |
What residents can do
Residents can notice problems but should not test or tamper with the systems.
- What you can observe: blocked or locked exits, stacked belongings in stairwells, missing or expired extinguisher tags, a sounder or panel showing a fault. These are visible checks and not technical testing.
- What not to do: do not operate, switch off or alter fire fighting equipment yourself. Report a suspected fault to the committee.
- Ask for records: ask the committee in writing to share the latest certificates and audit summary. Whether and how you can inspect society records depends on your society’s bye-laws and the law that applies, so keep your request polite and specific.
- Complaints about a hazard that is not being fixed: within NMMC limits you can log a grievance through the My NMMC app, which lets you add photos and track the complaint, or through the NMMC grievance system. Choose the category that fits and describe the hazard.
- Fire safety work is a recurring cost. For how societies budget common expenses, see our society maintenance charges guide.
In an emergency
Call 101 for the fire brigade or 112 for the emergency number, and do not use a complaint portal. Our emergency services guide lists local contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Form B due and what does it cover?
The Act requires the maintenance certificate in the months of January and July. The January certificate covers 1 July to 31 December of the previous year, and the July certificate covers 1 January to 30 June of the same year.
What is the difference between Form B and Form B-1?
Form B is the periodic maintenance certificate issued by a licensed agency. Form B-1 is the certificate tied to the automated continuous monitoring requirement for buildings covered by Section 3(3A) of the Act.
Does a society have to renew its fire NOC every year?
Not as a routine annual exercise. Maharashtra’s circular of 31 January 2025 says that renewal of final fire safety approval does not arise where the periodic certificates are produced, although renewal can still be required under other laws. Changes to a building or its use need to be checked with the competent authority.
Who can issue the certificate and who can do the audit?
A licensed agency issues Form B, and only a licensed Fire and Life Safety Auditor can carry out the fire audit. The state publishes separate registers for agencies and auditors, so check the right one.
Does the NMMC process apply to every Navi Mumbai building?
No. The NMMC services described here apply within NMMC’s jurisdiction. Elsewhere, identify the competent fire and planning authority from the building’s approval records.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| Sections 3, 5, 9, 45 and 45A, text as on 7 July 2025 | Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, consolidated and the official Acts and Rules page |
| Form B periods, documents and maintenance intervals | Guidelines to issue Form B, Circular No. MFS-2026/888, 7 July 2026 |
| Form B-1, Form V and submission modes | Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Rules, 2025 amendment |
| Renewal of final fire safety approval | Circular No. MFS/51/2025/164, 31 January 2025 |
| Registers of agencies and auditors | List of licence agencies and fire auditor register |
| NMMC fire NOC services and complaints | NMMC portal, My NMMC app and NMMC grievance system |
Checked 14 November 2026. Rules, forms and circulars can change, so confirm with the competent authority before relying on this.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
